Letter: Scholarships

By Geraldine Fisher, New Bern

Published: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 12:33 PM.

This letter addresses the same issues that were published on
Sunday, May 5, 2013
. Another citizen/concerned parent. I recently wrote the Craven County School Board and State Employees Credit Union Board Members, as well as the principal of
New Bern
High School
.

The letter was in regard to an attempt to receive help from the school counselors at
New Bern
High School
. On several occasions I asked for help from my daughter’s counselors.

She is a very studious and hard-working young lady with a 3.83/4.0 GPA. She is a leader and champion for her peers and wants to study psychology.

As I pleaded for help, I submitted a persona profile of my daughter’s activities. As you can see, our daughter's awards and accomplishments are:

This letter addresses the same issues that were published on Sunday, May 5, 2013. Another citizen/concerned parent. I recently wrote the Craven County School Board and State Employees Credit Union Board Members, as well as the principal of New BernHigh School.

The letter was in regard to an attempt to receive help from the school counselors at New BernHigh School. On several occasions I asked for help from my daughter’s counselors.

She is a very studious and hard-working young lady with a 3.83/4.0 GPA. She is a leader and champion for her peers and wants to study psychology.

As I pleaded for help, I submitted a persona profile of my daughter’s activities. As you can see, our daughter's awards and accomplishments are:

2005: Fifth grade, Won 2nd place in District Wide Spelling Bee Contest

2002: Second grade, Won 2nd place in the “Young Readers” essay contest, sponsored by Armed Services YMCA (essaycontest@asymca.org)

I am writing this letter in hopes that my daughter, as well as other qualified residents, who asked for their names to be submitted in the pool of applicants be given a fair opportunity to compete and/or get selected to receive scholarships that are open to all.

On Jan. 1, 2013, I met with Jason Wentz and Ms. Betsy McCandless. She told me that she could only submit one applicant, as if she is the decision maker for the NCSECU Scholarship Committee. We were not afforded the opportunity to submit an application. On Feb. 23, 2013, during a visit at a credit union location while applying for assistance on the FAFSA, I was told by credit union employees that my daughter should be given a fair opportunity to compete and it was not too late.

My family and I have prepared our daughter for a chance to compete for scholarships and grants. She has done all that was asked of her and more. Not only has she met standards/merits, she too has the financial need.